Initial jobless claims remain higher than expected

(May 17, 2012) -- There were 370,000 seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance in the United States in the week ending May 12. The four-week moving average of initial claims, which better controls for weekly volatility, declined to 375,000 from 379,750 the previous week. Continuing claims rose 18,000 to 3,265,000 after falling 43,000 to 3,247,000 the previous week.